Prologis nears prelet at next Cambridge Biomedical Campus block

Prologis is advancing discussions with the first potential occupier at 2000 Discovery Drive on its Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Bit.bio is in talks to prelet 50,000 sq ft of workspace. The biotechnology company is currently based at the Dorothy Hodgkin building on Babraham Research Campus in Cambridge. Late last year, the firm doubled the size of its 25,000 sq ft laboratory footprint in a move to expand its ability to discover, develop and manufacture any human cell type with consistency at scale. Prologis secured approval for 2000 Discovery Drive, comprising six floors of laboratory and office space across 115,000 sq ft, in September this year. Permission was also granted for 3000 Discovery Drive, a 100,000 sq ft life sciences building. Both buildings form part of the next phase of expansion following the delivery of Abcam’s bespoke hub and 1000 Discovery Drive, which is occupied by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and BioNTech. The next phase of expansion will be accompanied by infrastructure works, including an innovative, semi-sunken 450-space CycleParc, multi-storey car parking and an expanded public realm. From summer 2025, the campus will benefit from the opening of the new Cambridge South station on site. Upon completion of the latest two buildings, Prologis’s total investment in Cambridge Biomedical Campus will hit £500m. The news comes in parallel with the chancellor’s commitment to the life sciences sector in the Autumn Budget. Andrew Blevins, head of life sciences at Prologis, said: “Our investments in Cambridge Biomedical Campus are substantive examples of public-private partnership, right at the heart of UK life sciences. We are committed to delivering spaces that create jobs, drive innovation and support growth for the local and national economy. With innovative developments such as 2000 Discovery Drive, we are supporting the UK’s leadership in life sciences innovation.” He added: “Delivering modern, sustainable space for life sciences companies and their supply chains is a critical function of the industrial and logistics sector in the UK. It is a sector that Prologis has been investing in for more than 25 years, and which also includes the delivery of space, infrastructure and green energy solutions for data centres, manufacturing facilities and distribution centres, many of which have been highlighted as high-growth sectors in the government’s new industrial strategy green paper.” Bidwells and Savills are retained leasing agents on the scheme. Image © Scott Brownrigg